Comparative Analysis of Plant Diversity, Productivity and Tenurial Security of Farms with or without Input Support in a CBFM site in Subic, Zambales, Philippines

Abstract

The study compares the plant diversity, productivity and tenurial security of farms with and without government support in a Community–Based Forest Management area of the Subic–Cawag Upland Farmers’ Association in Subic, Zambales, Philippines. Using Shannon–Weiner Index, plant diversity was evaluated through field surveys of farms with input support and without input support, and was compared if there was a difference. Individual analysis was done in five nested plots, i.e., 20 x 20m plot as perennial, 4 x 4m plot as intermediates, and 1 x 1m plot as underbrush. Plant diversity in areas with input support was consistently higher than in areas without input support. Productivity and tenurial security were evaluated based on the results of a survey of 52 farmers, with 37 farmers under the “with input support” and 15 farmers under the “without input support”. For productivity, the group of respondents with farms that received input support had a higher average net present value (NPV) at 12% discount rate of PhP 328,582 ha–1, compared to the group without input support that had an NPV of PhP 185,682 ha–1. Finally, the study found that the issuance of long–term tenure does not guarantee security, ownership, and social equity due to economic reasons, but is dictated by economic status and the farmer stakeholders’ regard on how important the land entrusted to them is.